December 29, 2007
We wish all of our friends and supporters a happy and healthy new year, and we hope that 2008 brings us closer to a cure for Duchenne musular dystrophy!
This week, Darius and Logan were named "Newsmakers of the Year" (Arts category) in the Athens Banner-Herald. Check out this link to read the front-page story about them, and be sure to watch the video...it's hilarious!
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/122707/news_20071227031.shtml
Darius and his mom are now happily settled in their awesome new home, and Darius has taken several showers! Thanks to the generosity of Richard Whiteman and Kevin Howe, Big Daddy also has a new monitor and computer!
BIG NEWS: The Ellen DeGeneres Show featuring DGW will air again on Wednesday, January 2! If you missed it the first time, be sure to catch it this time. If you watched it before, please consider watching it again. It is because of YOU that it's running again. Sources at the show tell us that ratings were sky-high, and that while viewership normally slips for the last segment of a show, in our case, it soared!
QUICK FAVOR: Please continue to vote for Darius on the Volvo for Life Contest. Voting ends on January 7, so we're in the homestretch. If Darius makes it to the next level, $25,000 goes to DMD research. You can vote as often as once a minute, you don't have to register, and there are no pop-up windows. Here's the link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Please vote often and tell everyone you know to do the same. With your help, we can win this!!!
KNOW ABOUT IT!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A NEW HOUSE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
December 23, 2007
This will be quick because we're all still recuperating from the big move this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, we moved Big Daddy and his mom, Jamie, into their "new" house...just in time for the holidays! It was a long two days, but everything went smoothly, and the house is SO awesome. Check out the new pictures we've posted! Seeing Darius roll from room to room and seeing Jamie's face after her new living room furniture arrived and got all set up...that's what the holidays are all about!
Darius was a big hit at the Georgia Theater on Friday night at Madfest (see our pictures), although most of us didn't get to bed until 4:00 AM...and that was after moving furniture all day...in the rain!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this holiday so special for Darius and his family. This was truly a community effort!
Don't forget to keep voting for Darius in the Volvo for Life Contest. Voting ends January 7, and we really want to win that $25,000 for Charley's Fund! Here's the link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Finally, some quick news: our DGW store is fully opearational now. You can order DVDs, t-shirts, and Lamborghini orange wrist bands online at http://www.dariusgoesweststore.com or by calling toll-free 1-888-8DARIUS. Soon we'll have movie posters and other goodies. Remember, all proceeds from everything we sell go to DMD research, so spread the word!
Warmest wishes to all our supporters for a happy and healthy new year!
KNOW ABOUT IT!
This will be quick because we're all still recuperating from the big move this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, we moved Big Daddy and his mom, Jamie, into their "new" house...just in time for the holidays! It was a long two days, but everything went smoothly, and the house is SO awesome. Check out the new pictures we've posted! Seeing Darius roll from room to room and seeing Jamie's face after her new living room furniture arrived and got all set up...that's what the holidays are all about!
Darius was a big hit at the Georgia Theater on Friday night at Madfest (see our pictures), although most of us didn't get to bed until 4:00 AM...and that was after moving furniture all day...in the rain!
Thanks to everyone who helped make this holiday so special for Darius and his family. This was truly a community effort!
Don't forget to keep voting for Darius in the Volvo for Life Contest. Voting ends January 7, and we really want to win that $25,000 for Charley's Fund! Here's the link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Finally, some quick news: our DGW store is fully opearational now. You can order DVDs, t-shirts, and Lamborghini orange wrist bands online at http://www.dariusgoesweststore.com or by calling toll-free 1-888-8DARIUS. Soon we'll have movie posters and other goodies. Remember, all proceeds from everything we sell go to DMD research, so spread the word!
Warmest wishes to all our supporters for a happy and healthy new year!
KNOW ABOUT IT!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
IT'S A (W)RAP!
December 20, 2007
Tis the season to be....busy, busy, busy! Just in time for Christmas, we have (almost) wrapped up the renovations for Darius and Jamie's "new home," and we will be moving them in tomorrow!!! (We've also posted a few new pictures...check out the awesome wheelchair-accessible bathroom!). Thanks to EVERYONE who has worked on the house, fed everyone who worked on the house, and donated funiture or gift cards for Jamie to help put the finishing touches on/in her new abode. She is so excited, and so are we!
A special shoutout goes to electrician extraordinaire John Hardy (and his wife, Rose) of Drive-Tech for all of their assistance. We couldn't have crossed the finish line without their hard work! Also to Wesley's Drywall. Wesley and wife, Bonnie, recruited family members to help them so that we wouldn't be charged for labor. And last but not least, a HUGE thanks to Aaron Edelheit and Caroline Farrell, long-time DGW supporters from Santa Barbara, who sent Jamie a sweet Wal-Mart gift card for Christmas...and to Faith & Ernest Hardaway and family for sending an extremely generous donation for D's house that helped us say, "It's a wrap!"
Other news...
* Tomorrow (Friday, December 21) night, Big D will rap at MadFest, an allstar concert being held at the Georgia Theater that features big names like Love Tractor and Randall Bramblett. Darius will perform at about midnight, but please come earlier. Tickets are $10; call the Georgia Theater for more information. Cameras will be rolling; don't miss it!
* DGW crew member John Harmon was recently in the news in Milledgeville, GA. Check out the article at this link:
http://info.gcsu.edu/tip/archives/2007/GCSUstudentgetsatasteofHo.html
* Congrats to Athenian Jessica Perno, who recently ran a 10K race in Washington, D.C. (where she now lives) where proceeds went to DMD research. Her team helped raise $100,000!!! She was inspired to enter this race after seeing our film. We've posted a picture she sent us that was taken just after the race. Go, Jessica!
* Darius and Logan have been named "Newsmakers of the Year" by the Athens Banner-Herald. Watch for a big story on December 27.
We hope you have an amazing holiday!
Know about it!
Tis the season to be....busy, busy, busy! Just in time for Christmas, we have (almost) wrapped up the renovations for Darius and Jamie's "new home," and we will be moving them in tomorrow!!! (We've also posted a few new pictures...check out the awesome wheelchair-accessible bathroom!). Thanks to EVERYONE who has worked on the house, fed everyone who worked on the house, and donated funiture or gift cards for Jamie to help put the finishing touches on/in her new abode. She is so excited, and so are we!
A special shoutout goes to electrician extraordinaire John Hardy (and his wife, Rose) of Drive-Tech for all of their assistance. We couldn't have crossed the finish line without their hard work! Also to Wesley's Drywall. Wesley and wife, Bonnie, recruited family members to help them so that we wouldn't be charged for labor. And last but not least, a HUGE thanks to Aaron Edelheit and Caroline Farrell, long-time DGW supporters from Santa Barbara, who sent Jamie a sweet Wal-Mart gift card for Christmas...and to Faith & Ernest Hardaway and family for sending an extremely generous donation for D's house that helped us say, "It's a wrap!"
Other news...
* Tomorrow (Friday, December 21) night, Big D will rap at MadFest, an allstar concert being held at the Georgia Theater that features big names like Love Tractor and Randall Bramblett. Darius will perform at about midnight, but please come earlier. Tickets are $10; call the Georgia Theater for more information. Cameras will be rolling; don't miss it!
* DGW crew member John Harmon was recently in the news in Milledgeville, GA. Check out the article at this link:
http://info.gcsu.edu/tip/archives/2007/GCSUstudentgetsatasteofHo.html
* Congrats to Athenian Jessica Perno, who recently ran a 10K race in Washington, D.C. (where she now lives) where proceeds went to DMD research. Her team helped raise $100,000!!! She was inspired to enter this race after seeing our film. We've posted a picture she sent us that was taken just after the race. Go, Jessica!
* Darius and Logan have been named "Newsmakers of the Year" by the Athens Banner-Herald. Watch for a big story on December 27.
We hope you have an amazing holiday!
Know about it!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
WE'VE BEEN ELFED!
December 11, 2007
Looking for some holiday humor? Check out this link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9532294833
Our good friends, the McDonnell-Sandor family from Fleetwood, PA (Aidan appears in our film) sent us this link, starring Darius (looking mighty thin) and DGW crew members Sam Johnson, Ben Smalley, and Logan Smalley. Hilarious!
We've been busy doing last-minute renovations to Darius and his mom's "new" house and hope to move them in the weekend before Christmas. We've posted a few new pictures that show the awesome work being done by Dream House for Medically Fragile Children. They are widening doors and making the bathroom wheelchair accessible so that Darius can take a shower! Dixie Painting will come in behind them and finish painting the exterior of the addition, as well as the entire interior. Things are looking good!
DVD sales are brisk! If you haven't already ordered yours, go to our website (www.dariusgoeswest.com) and click on the "Order a DVD" button OR call toll-free: 1-888-8DARIUS. DVDs will begin shipping on Saturday, December 14 and will arrive in time for holiday giving if you order NOW. This is the ONLY place you can purchase DVDs for now; we have none in stock in Athens.
In fact, the only way we could get the DVD ready in time for the holidays was to get help from a fulfillment house like Co-Operations in Portland, Oregon. This company is taking care of all the packaging and shipping. It is owned by Fred and Pat Granum, who are related to Athenians Tom and Doris Granum. When DGW screened at the Longbaugh Film Festival in Portland last spring, Fred and Pat saw and loved the movie and took the crew out for an awesome dinner. They offered their company's services then and there, and now we've taken them up on their extremely generous offer.
If you missed Darius as Grand Marshal of the 2007 Athens Holiday Parade of Lights, check out this link:
http://athensclarkecounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=185
Finally, today we visited the Athens Volvo dealership to introduce ourselves and Darius to the managers there (see the picture we've posted). Please continue to vote for Darius in the Volvo For Life contest, which ends January 7. Here's the link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Vote often (up to once a minute) and tell your friends and family to do the same. If he makes it to the next round, Charley's Fund gets $25,000!
KNOW ABOUT IT!
Looking for some holiday humor? Check out this link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9532294833
Our good friends, the McDonnell-Sandor family from Fleetwood, PA (Aidan appears in our film) sent us this link, starring Darius (looking mighty thin) and DGW crew members Sam Johnson, Ben Smalley, and Logan Smalley. Hilarious!
We've been busy doing last-minute renovations to Darius and his mom's "new" house and hope to move them in the weekend before Christmas. We've posted a few new pictures that show the awesome work being done by Dream House for Medically Fragile Children. They are widening doors and making the bathroom wheelchair accessible so that Darius can take a shower! Dixie Painting will come in behind them and finish painting the exterior of the addition, as well as the entire interior. Things are looking good!
DVD sales are brisk! If you haven't already ordered yours, go to our website (www.dariusgoeswest.com) and click on the "Order a DVD" button OR call toll-free: 1-888-8DARIUS. DVDs will begin shipping on Saturday, December 14 and will arrive in time for holiday giving if you order NOW. This is the ONLY place you can purchase DVDs for now; we have none in stock in Athens.
In fact, the only way we could get the DVD ready in time for the holidays was to get help from a fulfillment house like Co-Operations in Portland, Oregon. This company is taking care of all the packaging and shipping. It is owned by Fred and Pat Granum, who are related to Athenians Tom and Doris Granum. When DGW screened at the Longbaugh Film Festival in Portland last spring, Fred and Pat saw and loved the movie and took the crew out for an awesome dinner. They offered their company's services then and there, and now we've taken them up on their extremely generous offer.
If you missed Darius as Grand Marshal of the 2007 Athens Holiday Parade of Lights, check out this link:
http://athensclarkecounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=185
Finally, today we visited the Athens Volvo dealership to introduce ourselves and Darius to the managers there (see the picture we've posted). Please continue to vote for Darius in the Volvo For Life contest, which ends January 7. Here's the link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Vote often (up to once a minute) and tell your friends and family to do the same. If he makes it to the next round, Charley's Fund gets $25,000!
KNOW ABOUT IT!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
FA-LA-LA-LA-LA!
December 5, 2007
The Athens Christmas Parade was magical! (We've posted some pictures...check them out). Darius was the Grand Marshall and rode in the back of Todd Emily's shiny red pickup truck with a few DGW crew members. Daniel and other crew members followed behind in the DGW Dodge Sprinter van, which we had decorated with garlands and bows. We threw tons of candy (and ran out less than halfway through), along with about 20 DGW t-shirts, which the crowd loved.
Speaking of crowds, we never imagined it to be so HUGE. There must have been 10,000 people lining the streets of the Classic City. Everyone was yelling to Darius, "Way to go, man!" and "Hey, saw you on Ellen DeGeneres!" Darius wore a Santa hat and a blinking necklace. He was all smiles from start to finish. Thanks, Athens, for this wonderful opportunity (and to Project START camp director, Leslie Trier for suggesting Darius as Grand Marshall).
The night was memorable and magical for D's mom, Jamie, as well. Thanks to the efforts of our dear friends at Shirtworks (Kathy and Jackie), she and her family got to ride to the parade in style. Did someone say STRETCH LIMO? Yep! Big-time DGW supporter Anita Will, along with Calvin Smith, owner of A Touch of Elegance Limousine Service made all that happen...and champagne was flowing!!! David Hayward escorted all these lovely ladies.
In other news, many crew members spent the weekend in Los Angeles, where we had a private screening/Charley's Fund benefit at CAA on Friday night, followed by a kick-off DGW "Know About It" school screening on Saturday at the New Beverly Cinema for Jordan High School students. Both events rocked, and we raised quite a bit of money Friday night (no final tallies yet). Logan flew on the red eye Saturday night to make it to Lenox, Massachusetts for another school screening, where 500 students turned out. Woo-hoo!
D's house is progressing nicely, thanks to an amazing gift from Dream House for Medically Fragile Children (dreamhouseforkids.org). They have agreed to take care of making the house accessible, which includes widening all doorways and renovating the bathroom (to include a roll-in shower). We are so grateful for this incredibly generous gift! Tim Johnson made this awesome connection for us. If you have a second, please send an e-mail to Linnea Roe at Dream House to say thanks on our behalf. Here's her e-mail: Linnea.Roe@dreamhouseforkids.org
Don't forget that DVDs of Darius Goes West are on sale now at our website (www.dariusgoeswest.com). With $16 of every DVD purchase going directly to DMD research, this is a gift you can feel good about giving.
Also, don't forget to keep voting for Darius in the "Volvo for Life" contest. You can vote once a minute, and it's so easy. Just go to this link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Tell your friends and family to do the same. If he makes it to the next level (voting closes January 7), Charley's Fund gets $25,000!!!
Know about it!
The Athens Christmas Parade was magical! (We've posted some pictures...check them out). Darius was the Grand Marshall and rode in the back of Todd Emily's shiny red pickup truck with a few DGW crew members. Daniel and other crew members followed behind in the DGW Dodge Sprinter van, which we had decorated with garlands and bows. We threw tons of candy (and ran out less than halfway through), along with about 20 DGW t-shirts, which the crowd loved.
Speaking of crowds, we never imagined it to be so HUGE. There must have been 10,000 people lining the streets of the Classic City. Everyone was yelling to Darius, "Way to go, man!" and "Hey, saw you on Ellen DeGeneres!" Darius wore a Santa hat and a blinking necklace. He was all smiles from start to finish. Thanks, Athens, for this wonderful opportunity (and to Project START camp director, Leslie Trier for suggesting Darius as Grand Marshall).
The night was memorable and magical for D's mom, Jamie, as well. Thanks to the efforts of our dear friends at Shirtworks (Kathy and Jackie), she and her family got to ride to the parade in style. Did someone say STRETCH LIMO? Yep! Big-time DGW supporter Anita Will, along with Calvin Smith, owner of A Touch of Elegance Limousine Service made all that happen...and champagne was flowing!!! David Hayward escorted all these lovely ladies.
In other news, many crew members spent the weekend in Los Angeles, where we had a private screening/Charley's Fund benefit at CAA on Friday night, followed by a kick-off DGW "Know About It" school screening on Saturday at the New Beverly Cinema for Jordan High School students. Both events rocked, and we raised quite a bit of money Friday night (no final tallies yet). Logan flew on the red eye Saturday night to make it to Lenox, Massachusetts for another school screening, where 500 students turned out. Woo-hoo!
D's house is progressing nicely, thanks to an amazing gift from Dream House for Medically Fragile Children (dreamhouseforkids.org). They have agreed to take care of making the house accessible, which includes widening all doorways and renovating the bathroom (to include a roll-in shower). We are so grateful for this incredibly generous gift! Tim Johnson made this awesome connection for us. If you have a second, please send an e-mail to Linnea Roe at Dream House to say thanks on our behalf. Here's her e-mail: Linnea.Roe@dreamhouseforkids.org
Don't forget that DVDs of Darius Goes West are on sale now at our website (www.dariusgoeswest.com). With $16 of every DVD purchase going directly to DMD research, this is a gift you can feel good about giving.
Also, don't forget to keep voting for Darius in the "Volvo for Life" contest. You can vote once a minute, and it's so easy. Just go to this link:
http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com/cgi-bin/iowa/english/vote/quality/index.html
Tell your friends and family to do the same. If he makes it to the next level (voting closes January 7), Charley's Fund gets $25,000!!!
Know about it!
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